Systems and methods for modular headset system

ABSTRACT

Arrangements described herein relate to systems, apparatuses, and methods for a headset system that includes a transducer configured to collect physiological data of a subject, a device housing configured to support the transducer, an insert portion disposed on the device housing, a support structure comprising a baseplate and a receiving portion, and a head cradle supported by the baseplate. The receiving portion extends in a direction that is oblique with respect to the baseplate. The insert portion is sized and shaped to engage the receiving portion to removably attach the device housing to the baseplate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from provisional U.S. Application No.62/805,839, titled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MODULAR HEADSET SYSTEM, filedFeb. 14, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

Performance of a device (e.g., optical devices, surgical devices,scanning devices, medical diagnostic devices, automated TranscranialDoppler devices, and so on) that is incorporated in a headset system isoptimized based on the device's positioning with respect to a subject'shead. Initial registration (e.g., alignment) of the device or aninstrument (e.g., a probe) thereof with respect to particular areas ofthe subject's head is important for the device to operate effectivelyduring its operation. In addition, a technician of the headset systemperforming manual registration of the device may introduce human errorssuch that performance of the device during operation can be adverselyaffected. Furthermore, a highly skilled technician is needed to properlyregister the device, and a lack of such highly skilled technician mayimpede efficient and timely administration of healthcare. Thesetechnical issues prevent such devices from being pervasive deployed.

SUMMARY

In some arrangements, a headset system includes a transducer configuredto collect physiological data of a subject, a device housing configuredto support the transducer, an insert portion disposed on the devicehousing, a support structure includes a baseplate and a receivingportion, and a head cradle supported by the baseplate. The receivingportion extends in a direction that is oblique with respect to thebaseplate. The insert portion is sized and shaped to engage thereceiving portion to removably attach the device housing to thebaseplate.

In some arrangements, the receiving portion extends in an obliquedirection from the baseplate.

In some arrangements, the receiving portion includes a body and areceptacle. The receptacle forms an aperture configured to receive theinsert portion.

In some arrangements, the aperture has an inner surface includes slots.The insertion portion includes a rail having teeth. The teeth are sizedand shaped to engage the slots when the insertion portion is engagedwith the receiving portion.

In some arrangements, the insert portion includes an extension having atop surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface faces away from thedevice housing. The rail is disposed on the bottom surface.

In some arrangements, the body extends in an oblique direction from thebaseplate.

In some arrangements, the body extends from the baseplate in a firstdirection. The receptacle extends in a second direction. The firstdirection traverses the second direction.

In some arrangements, at least a portion of the insert portion has aflat shape.

In some arrangements, the device housing is configured to stand uprighton a surface via the portion of the insert portion having the flatshape.

In some arrangements, the transducer extends from the device housing ina first direction. The insertion portion extends in a second direction.The first direction and the second direction are parallel.

In some arrangements, the headset system further includes an actuatorconfigured to lock the insert portion in a position relative to thereceiving portion when at least a part of the insert portion is insertedinto the receiving portion.

In some arrangements, the actuator includes a latch disposed on thedevice housing.

In some arrangements, the insertion portion includes a rail havingteeth. The actuator is configured to lock the insert portion in theposition relative to the receiving portion by controlling a position ofthe rail.

In some arrangements, the actuator is configured to control the positionof the rail via a lever mechanism connecting the actuator with the rail.

In some arrangements, the rail faces an opening slit of the receivingportion.

In some arrangements, the transducer extends from the device housing ina first direction. The actuator is arranged on a surface of the devicehousing that faces a second direction. The first direction and thesecond direction are opposite.

In some arrangements, the device housing includes a first portion and asecond portion separate from the first portion. The first portion isconfigured to support the transducer. The actuator is disposed on thesecond portion.

In some arrangements, the insert portion is disposed on the firstportion.

In some arrangements, the insert portion is disposed on the secondportion.

In some arrangements, at least a portion of the insert portion isdetachably mounted to the device housing.

In some arrangements, a headset system includes a transducer configuredto collect physiological data of a subject, a device housing configuredto support the transducer, the transducer is disposed on a front side ofthe device housing, an insert portion disposed on the device housing, asupport structuring includes a baseplate and a receiving portion, a headcradle supported by the baseplate, and an actuator disposed on a backside of the device housing. The insert portion is sized and shaped toengage the receiving portion to removably attach the device housing tothe baseplate. The front side and the back side are opposite sides ofthe device housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the following description and the accompanying examplearrangements shown in the drawings, which are briefly described below.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a headset system according tovarious arrangements.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate perspective views of the device of the headsetsystem shown in FIG. 1 according to various arrangements.

FIG. 2D illustrates a front view of the device of the headset systemshown in FIG. 1 according to various arrangements.

FIGS. 2E and 2F illustrate side views of the device of the headsetsystem shown in FIG. 1 according to various arrangements.

FIG. 2G illustrates a back view of the device of the headset systemshown in FIG. 1 according to various arrangements.

FIG. 2H illustrates a top view of the device of the headset system shownin FIG. 1 according to various arrangements.

FIG. 2I illustrates a bottom view of the device of the headset systemshown in FIG. 1 according to various arrangements.

FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of the support structure of theheadset system shown in FIG. 1 according to various arrangements.

FIG. 3B illustrates a front view of the support structure of the headsetsystem shown in FIG. 1 according to various arrangements.

FIG. 3C illustrates a side view of the support structure of the headsetsystem shown in FIG. 1 according to various arrangements.

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating an objective workspace of atransducer with respect to different sizes and shapes of human headsaccording to various arrangements.

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating a FOV of the camera inrelation to the objective workspace according to various arrangements.

FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram illustrating the FOV of the camera andthe home position of the transducer in relation to the objectiveworkspace according to various arrangements.

FIG. 4D is a schematic diagram illustrating the FOV of the camera andthe home position of the transducer in relation to the objectiveworkspace according to various arrangements.

FIG. 5A illustrates a front view of an insert portion of the deviceshown in FIGS. 1-2I according to various arrangements.

FIG. 5B illustrates a perspective view of the insert portion of thedevice shown in FIGS. 1 and 1-2I according to various arrangements.

FIG. 5C illustrates a perspective view of the receiving portion of thesupport structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A-3C according to variousarrangements.

FIG. 5D illustrates a perspective view of a mechanical linkage linkingan actuator to a rail according to various arrangements.

FIG. 6A illustrates a front view of an enclosure according to variousarrangements.

FIG. 6B illustrates the enclosure of FIG. 6A being deployed on thedevice shown in FIGS. 1-2I according to various arrangements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of various configurations and isnot intended to represent the only configurations in which the conceptsdescribed herein may be practiced. The detailed description includesspecific details for providing a thorough understanding of variousconcepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatthese concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In someinstances, well-known structures and components are shown in blockdiagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

In the following description of various arrangements, reference is madeto the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which areshown, by way of illustration, specific arrangements in which thearrangements may be practiced. It is to be understood that otherarrangements may be utilized, and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the various arrangements disclosed in thepresent disclosure.

The arrangements disclosed herein relate to systems, apparatuses, andmethods for collecting physiological data (e.g., ultrasound data) of aportion (e.g., a head) of a subject. An example is a headset system,which includes a support structure (e.g., including a head cradle)configured to (sized and shaped to) support a portion (e.g., the head)of the subject and a device configured to collect the physiological dataof the portion of the subject when that portion of the subject issupported by the support structure. The device includes a transducer(e.g., a probe) configured to collect the physiological data of theportion of the subject.

While the head of the subject is used as an example of the portion ofthe subject of which the device (e.g., the transducer) can collect thephysiological data, the system can likewise collect physiological dataof other body parts such as but not limited to, the limbs, the neck, theabdomen, the chest, the bones, various organs (e.g., the heart, thelungs, the liver, the skin, and so on), and so on. Similarly, while thehead cradle is used as an example component of the support structure,the support structure can include any suitable structure or mechanismconfigured (e.g., shaped) to support and secure a corresponding portionof the subject while the device collects physiological data of thatportion of the subject.

The device includes a device housing configured to support thetransducer and robotics configured to move the transducer with respectto the subject to collect the physiological data. In that regard, thetransducer is movably supported by the device housing. The devicehousing may further support a camera configured to register thetransducer. The device can be detachably mounted to the supportstructure. The device housing includes at least one handle that enablesthe device to be carried by an operator and assembled with (e.g.,attached to) the support structure. In that regard, the device and thesupport structure have suitable connection interfaces configured toallow the headset system to be assembled or dissembled by the operatorwithout using of tools. As such, the device and the support structurecan be transported and stored separately and can be assembled to performthe operations described herein. By providing the at least one handle,the operator can easily attach the device to or detach the device fromthe support structure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a headset system 100 accordingto various arrangements. Referring to FIG. 1, the headset system 100 isshown to include devices 130 and 135 that can be connected or attachedto a support structure 110. The headset system 100 further includes arestraint system 120 configured to be connected or attached to thesupport structure 110.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate perspective views of the device 130 shown in FIG.1 according to various arrangements. FIG. 2D illustrates a front view ofthe device 130 shown in FIG. 1 according to various arrangements. FIGS.2E and 2F illustrate side views of the device 130 shown in FIG. 1according to various arrangements. FIG. 2G illustrates a back view ofthe device 130 shown in FIG. 1 according to various arrangements. FIG.2H illustrates a top view of the device 130 shown in FIG. 1 according tovarious arrangements. FIG. 2I illustrates a bottom view of the device130 shown in FIG. 1 according to various arrangements.

FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of the support structure 110shown in FIG. 1 according to various arrangements. FIG. 3B illustrates afront view of the support structure 110 shown in FIG. 1 according tovarious arrangements. FIG. 3C illustrates a side view of the supportstructure 110 shown in FIG. 1 according to various arrangements.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3C, in some arrangements, the headset system 100 isa modular device such that the devices 130 and 135 can be attached toand detached from the support structure 110 via suitable attachmentmechanisms as described herein. In that regard, the headset system 100can be assembled and dissembled without any tools by an operator,allowing the headset system 100 to collect physiological data on the flywhile needing an insignificant amount of time to assemble. The headsetsystem 100 can therefore be deployed in emergency situations in whichquick assembly and disassembly are preferred or even required. In somearrangements, the headset system 100 is used in conjunction with amedical device (e.g., the devices 130 and 135) for use with respect to ahead of a subject. Examples of such a medical device include but are notlimited to an ocular monitoring system, a breathing device, a device formonitoring neurological activity, a surgical device, a device formonitoring radioactive traces, and so on. In other arrangements, theheadset system 100 can be used in conjunction with a non-medical device(e.g., a virtual reality eyepiece) for use with respect to a head of thesubject.

The device 130 can be positioned to be adjacent to a right lateral sideof a head of the subject while the device 135 can be positioned to beadjacent to a left lateral side of the head, when the head is supportedby the support structure 110. As such, the devices 130 and 135 mayoperate simultaneously to collect the physiological data from both sidesof the head simultaneously. In that regard, the device 135 may be amirror-image device of the device 130. As such, while the features ofthe device 130 are described throughout the application, the features ofthe device 130 or the mirrored arrangements thereof are likewisefeatures of the device 135. While the two devices 130 and 135 are shownin FIG. 1, the headset system 100 may include one or three or moredevices, each of which may be a device such as but not limited to, thedevice 130 or 135.

In some arrangements, the device 130 includes a probe or transducer 131and robotics (not shown) for controlling the transducer 131. Thetransducer 131 and the robotics may be collectively referred to as an“instrument.” In that regard, an instrument as used herein refers to atleast one data collection device (e.g., a probe such as but not limitedto, the transducer 131) and devices (e.g., positioning components suchas but not limited to, the robotics and a controller with suitableprocessing and memory capabilities) configured to control positioningand operations (e.g., data collection) of the device 130. The roboticsare configured to translate the transducer 131 along a surface of thehead and to move the transducer 131 with respect to (e.g., toward andaway from) the head along various axes in the Cartesian, spherical, androtational coordinate systems. For example, the robotics can include amultiple degree-of-freedom (DOF) positioning system with motionplanning. In some arrangements, the robotics are capable of supportingtwo, three, four, five, or six DOF movements of the transducer 131 withrespect to the head. For example, the robotics are configured totranslate the transducer 131 along a surface (defined by an XY-plane asfurther discussed herein) of a head and to move the transducer 131toward and away (defined by a Z-axis as further discussed herein) fromthe head. As such, the robotics are configured to move the transducer131 along multiple axes (e.g., an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis), asdescribed herein. The X-axis is perpendicular to or at least transverseto the XY-plane. In some instances, the robotics can translate in X andY axes (e.g., along a surface of the head) to locate a temporal windowregion, and in Z-axis with both force and position feedback control toboth position and maintain an appropriate force against the head (e.g.,a skull/skin of the head) to maximize signal quality by maintainingappropriate contact force. Two angular DOF (e.g., pan and tilt) may beused to maximize normal insonation of blood vessels to maximize velocitysignals.

In some arrangements, the transducer 131 includes a first end and asecond end that is opposite to the first end. In some arrangements, thefirst end includes a concave surface that is configured to be adjacentto or contact a scanning surface (e.g., a head of a subject). Theconcave surface is configured with a particular pitch to focus generatedenergy toward the scanning surface. In some arrangements, the device 130is a Transcranial Doppler (TCD) apparatus such that the first end of thetransducer 131 is configured to be adjacent to or contact a human head(e.g., a side of the human head), where the transducer 131 is alignedalong the head. The first end of the transducer 131 is configured toprovide ultrasound wave emissions from the first end and directed intothe human head (e.g., toward the brain). In that regard, the transducer131 is an ultrasound probe (such as, but not limited to, an ultrasoundtransducer, TCD, transcranial color-coded sonography (TCCS), or acousticultrasound transducer array such as sequential arrays or phased arrays)that emits acoustic energy capable of penetrating windows in theskull/head or neck. In other arrangements, the transducer 131 isconfigured to emit other types of waves during operation, such as, butnot limited to, infrared (IR), x-ray, electromagnetic, thermal,near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), optical, lighting, audio,electroencephalography, or the like.

In some arrangements, a second end of the transducer 131 interfaces withthe robotics. The robotics include components, such as, but not limitedto, a motor assembly and so on for controlling the transducer 131 (e.g.,control Z-axis pressure, normal alignment, and so on). In somearrangements, the registration of the transducer 131 against a subject'shead is accomplished using the robotics to properly position and alignthe transducer 131 with the subject's head or anatomical featuresthereof. In some arrangements, the second end of the transducer 131includes a threaded section along a portion of the body of thetransducer 131, and the second end is configured to be secured orotherwise operatively coupled to the robotics via the threads (e.g., bybeing screwed into the robotics). In other arrangements, the transducer131 is secured or otherwise operatively coupled to the robotics by anyother suitable connecting elements such as but not limited to, welding,adhesive, one or more hooks and latches, one or more separate screws,press fittings, or the like.

Further disclosure regarding the device 130 that can be used inconjunction with the headset system 100 described herein can be found innon-provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/399,648, titled ROBOTICSYSTEMS FOR CONTROL OF AN ULTRASONIC PROBE, and filed on Jan. 5, 2017,which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some arrangements, the headset system 100 (e.g., the device 130)supports other medical and non-medical devices that can be used andregistered (e.g., positioned or aligned) with respect to a subject'shead. For example, in some arrangements, an ocular device is a devicethat can be optimized by being properly positioned and aligned with asubject's eyes (e.g., if the ocular device is shifted with respect to asubject's eyes, performance of the ocular device may decline). In somearrangements, the ocular device is attached at the headset system 100 soas to cover the eyes of a subject. As an example of a non-medical deviceuse with respect to the headset system 100, in some arrangements, theheadset system 100 (e.g., the device 130) can be used in connection withthe ocular device that is a virtual reality device configured to providea virtual experience to the subject such that any disturbance of thepositioning of the ocular device in front of the subject's eyes maycause a degradation in the subject's virtual experience.

In some arrangements, the ocular device is a medical device designed totrack ocular behavior of a subject such as but not limited to diagnosingwhether the subject has experienced a concussion. In other arrangements,the ocular device is an ocular diagnosis or treatment tool fordetermining or adjusting vision of the subject. As an example, theocular device is a device for correcting imperfect vision of a subject(e.g., laser eye surgery). As another example, in some arrangements, theocular device is an ocular diagnostic tool for determining a visionprescription of a subject, presence of one or more eye conditions (e.g.,glaucoma, cataracts, ocular hypertension, uveitis, or the like), and soon. In some arrangements, the ocular device is designed to cover andinteract with both eyes simultaneously or in sequence. In otherarrangements, the ocular device is designed to cover and interact with asingle eye (e.g., while the other eye remains uncovered).

The device 130 includes a device housing 200 that houses and protectsvarious electronic and mechanical components of the device 130,including the robotics, at least a part of the transducer 131, acontroller for controlling movements and data collection of thetransducer 131, and so on. The device housing 200 can be made from anysuitable rigid material, such as, but not limited to, hard/rigidplastic, metal, aluminum, steel, titanium, magnesium, various alloys,composites, carbon fiber, fiber glass, expanded foam, compression moldedfoam, stereolithography (SLA) or Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)-madematerials, Reaction Injection Molding (RIM) molding, acrylonitrilebutadiene styrene (ABS), thermoplastic olefin (TPO), nylon, polyvinylchloride (PVC), fiber reinforced resins, and so on.

The device housing 200 includes a cavity 202 through which thetransducer 131 protrudes. The transducer 131 is configured to be movedby the robotics within a boundary defined by the cavity 202. In someexamples, the cavity 202 corresponds to (e.g., is parallel with) theXY-plane defined by the X-axis and the Y-axis. The transducer 131 canextend or retract along the Z-axis. The cavity 202 may expose components(e.g., the robotics and the controller) of the device 130.

In some arrangements, the device housing 200 supports a camera 105 on anexterior surface of the device housing 200. The camera 105 is configuredto capture one or more images of a subject's head when the subject'shead is placed within the support structure 110 (e.g., within a headcradle 112). From the captured one or more images, the subject's headcan be registered with respect to the transducer 131. That is, thedevice 130 is configured to initially position or align the transducer131 for subsequent operations of the transducer 131 on the subject'shead, restricting or defining the workspace (e.g., an actual workspace)of the transducer 131 to certain boundaries during the operations of thetransducer 131, and so on.

In some arrangements, the camera 105 is any suitable image capturingmechanism or device for taking images of one or more body parts of thesubject (e.g., a subject's head). Examples of the camera 105 include butare not limited to, a digital camera, a thermal camera, an infraredcamera, a night vision camera, and so on. In some examples, the camera105 can have any suitable resolution and focal length for capturingdesired images suitable for registering a subject's head. In oneexample, the camera 105 has about 5 megapixels and about 4 millimeter(mm) focal length. In some arrangements, the resolution and/or the focallength of the camera 105 is fixed or predetermined. In otherarrangements, the resolution and/or the focal length are variable andcan be altered by an operator or automatically. In some arrangements, anexposure time of the camera 105 is adjustable (e.g., manually adjustableby an operator).

Further disclosure regarding registration can be found innon-provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/132,068, titled SYSTEMSAND METHODS FOR REGISTERING HEADSET SYSTEM, and filed on Sep. 14, 2018,which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some arrangements, the support structure 110 includes the head cradle112 configured to (sized and shaped to) receive and support a subject'shead during operation of the devices 130 and 135. The head cradle 112 issized and shaped to accommodate and supporting different head sizes foruse in conjunction with the device 130. In some arrangements, the headcradle 112 includes a frame 114 and padding (not shown for clarity)attached to or disposed over the frame 114. The frame 114 is configuredto support the padding. The padding is configured to contact a humanhead. In other words, the padding is between the frame 114 and the headwhen the head is supported by the head cradle 112. In some arrangements,the frame 114 is shaped to suitably contour and support varying headsizes and shapes. The frame 114 can also be shaped to adequatelyposition a subject's head in a workspace of the device 130. In somearrangements, the frame 114 of the head cradle 112 is made from anysuitably malleable material that allows for flexing, such as, but notlimited to, flexible plastics, polyethylene, urethanes, polypropylene,ABS, nylon, fiber-reinforced silicones, structural foams, or the like.

In some arrangements, the padding of the head cradle 112 is made fromany suitable soft material, such as, but not limited to, closed cellfoam, open cell foam, self-skinning open or closed cell foams, cast,aerated, or extruded silicone or urethane, polyurethane gels that areconfigured to distribute pressure efficiently, or the like. The paddingof the head cradle 112 has any suitable firmness for supporting a head,such as, but not limited to, in a range of about 0.1 pound per squareinch (psi) to about 60 psi, in a range of about 0.1 psi to about 10 psi,or within other suitable ranges of firmness. The padding of the headcradle 112 has memory for expanding to fit contours of a head. In somearrangements, the padding is configured to be compressed and then toexpand after the subject's head is placed in the headset system 100 sothat the padding expands to secure the headset system 100 (e.g., to fillin a gap between the frame 114 and the head). In some arrangements, thepadding is manufactured by any suitable process for affixing the paddingto the frame 114 such as but not limited to, injection molding,laminating, adhesive mounting (e.g., gluing or bonding), co-molding,co-casting, injection, snapping, hook-and-loop fastening, frictionfitting, attaching with barbs, using screw bosses, and so on. In otherarrangements, the padding of the head cradle 112 includes an inflatablebladder.

In some arrangements, the restraint system 120 is configured to restraina subject's head when the head is in the head cradle 112. In somearrangements, the restraint system 120 includes a body 121 and a contact122. The body 121 is attached to the support structure 110 (e.g., to oneor both of the head cradle 112 and a baseplate 150) via a base 116. Asshown, the base 116 includes a cavity configured to receive the body 121of the restraint system 120. The body 121 of the restraint system 120includes an elongated section that is configured to slide into thecavity of the base 116 and lock while in the base 116. The body 121 ofthe restraint system 120 may include a rail of a slide-and-lockmechanism. The body 121 of the restraint system 120 is configured to belocked by the base 116 at different positions along the rail so as toprovide adjustability of the restraint system 120 (to adjust a length ofthe body 121 of the restraint system 120) to accommodate different headsof subjects (e.g., different sizes and shapes). In other examples, thebase 116 may include other suitable attachment mechanisms (e.g.,snapping, hook-and-loop fastening, friction fitting, latch, and so on)configured to removably connect to the body 121 of the restraint system120 without tools and to provide adjustability to accommodate differentheads of subjects.

In some arrangements, the contact 122 of the restraint system 120 isattached to the body 121 the restraint system 120, and the contact 122is configured to contact 122 and apply pressure against a subject's head(e.g., forehead) for securing the subject to the head cradle 112. Insome arrangements, the contact 122 is configured to pivot at a locationwhere the contact 122 is attached to the body 121 to provide furtheradjustability for different sized and shaped heads of subjects. In someexamples, the contact 122 includes a padding for contacting a subject'shead. The padding is made from any suitable soft material, such as, butnot limited to, closed cell foam, open cell foam, self-skinning open orclosed cell foams, cast, aerated, or extruded silicone or urethane,polyurethane gels that are configured to distribute pressureefficiently, or the like.

In some arrangements, the baseplate 150 includes the base 116, receivingportions 550 and 555, and the head cradle 112. In some arrangements, oneor more of the restraint system 120, the receiving portions 550 and 555,and the head cradle 112 are attached to the baseplate 150 via aplurality of screws and/or bolts. In other arrangements, one or more ofthe restraint system 120, the receiving portions 550 and 555, and thehead cradle 112 are attached to the baseplate 150 by any other suitableconnecting elements such as but not limited to, welding, adhesive, oneor more hooks and latches, press fittings, or the like. In somearrangements, one or more of the restraint system 120, the receivingportions 550 and 555, and the head cradle 112 are permanently affixed tothe baseplate 150. In other arrangements, one or more of the restraintsystem 120, the receiving portions 550 and 555, and the head cradle 112are releasably or removably attached to the baseplate 150 without tools.

In some arrangements, the baseplate 150 is made from any suitable rigidmaterial, such as, but not limited to, hard plastic, metals, aluminum,steel, titanium, magnesium, various alloys, rigid plastics, composites,carbon fiber, fiber glass, expanded foam, compression molded foam, SLAor FDM-made materials, RIM molding, ABS, TPO, nylon, PVC, fiberreinforced resins, or the like. The baseplate 150 has a top surfacefacing and connecting to the head cradle 112. The baseplate 150 has abottom flat or substantially flat surface opposite to the top surface,the bottom surface facing away from the head cradle 112. The bottomsurface is configured to contact a flat work surface (e.g., a bed, atable, the ground, a gurney, and so on) and to stabilize the supportstructure 110 on the flat surface when the head of the subject isreceived in the head cradle 112.

Further disclosure regarding the head cradle 112, the base plate 150,and other structural components of the support structure 110 can befound in non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/853,433, titledHEADSET SYSTEM, and filed on Dec. 22, 2017, and non-provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 16/101,352, titled DYNAMIC HEADSET APPARATUS, andfiled on Aug. 10, 2018 each of which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

In some arrangements, the device 130 further includes an input device(not shown), an output device (not shown), and a network interface. Theinput device includes any suitable device configured to allow anoperator to input information or commands into the headset system 100.In some arrangements, the input device includes, but is not limited to,a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a joystick, a touchscreen display,bottoms, switches, dials, or any other input device performing a similarfunction. In some arrangements, the output device includes any suitabledevice configured to display information, results, messages, and so onto an operator concerning the headset system 100. In some arrangements,the output device includes, but is not limited to, a screen, a computermonitor, a printer, a facsimile machine, or any other output deviceperforming a similar function. In some arrangements, the input deviceand the output device are the same device (e.g., a touchscreen displaydevice). In some arrangements, the network interface 406 is structuredfor sending and receiving data over a communication network (e.g.,results, instructions, requests, software or firmware updates, and soon). Accordingly, the network interface includes any of a cellulartransceiver (for cellular standards), local wireless network transceiver(for 802.11X, ZigBee, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or the like), wired networkinterface, a combination thereof (e.g., both a cellular transceiver anda Bluetooth transceiver), and/or the like.

In some arrangements, the device 130 further includes thecontroller/circuits for controlling operations, processing data,executing input commands, providing results, and so on with respect tothe device 130. For example, the controller is configured to receiveinput data or instructions from the input device or the networkinterface, control the device 130 to execute the commands (e.g.,movement and data collection of the transducer 131), receive data fromthe device 130, provide information to the output device or networkinterface, and so on. In some arrangements, the controller includes aprocessor, memory, an image processing circuit, a registration circuit,and a robotics control circuit. The image data captured by the camera105 is processed by the image processing circuit for registration by theregistration circuit. The robotics control circuit controls the roboticsto move the transducer 131.

In some arrangements, the processor is implemented as a general-purposeprocessor and is coupled to at least one memory. The processor includesany suitable data processing device, such as a microprocessor. In thealternative, the processor includes any suitable electronic processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. In some arrangements, theprocessor is implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., acombination of a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) and a microprocessor, aplurality of microprocessors, at least one microprocessor in conjunctionwith a DSP core, or any other such configuration). In some arrangements,the processor is implemented as an Application Specific IntegratedCircuit (ASIC), one or more Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), aDSP, a group of processing components, or other suitable electronicprocessing components.

In some arrangements, the memory includes a non-transitoryprocessor-readable storage medium that stores processor-executableinstructions. In some arrangements, the memory includes any suitableinternal or external device for storing software and data. Examples ofthe memory can include, but are not limited to, Random Access Memory(RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Non-Volatile RAM (NVRAM), flash memory,floppy disks, hard disks, dongles or other Recomp Sensor Board(RSB)-connected memory devices, or the like. The memory can store anOperating System (OS), user application software, and/or executableinstructions. The memory can also store application data, such as anarray data structure. In some arrangements, the memory stores dataand/or computer code for facilitating the various processes describedherein.

In some arrangements, the device housing 200 is shaped to clear the FOVof the camera 105. For example, the device housing 200 has a chamferedsurface 210 having a size and a chamfered angle configured to clear aFOV of the camera 105. The camera 105 is supported on the device housing200 at a camera position relative to the device housing 200. The cameraposition corresponds to a lens center of the camera 105. For example,the chamfered surface 210 is formed as a cutout from a vertical edge ofthe device housing 200, such that the device housing 200 is not in theFOV of the camera 105. In some examples, the device housing 200 has ashape of a rectangular cuboid with surfaces and edges. In some examples,at least a portion of an edge between the camera 105 and the transducer131 corresponds to the cutout from the device housing 200 to form thechamfered surface 210. In some examples, the cutout edge correspondingto the chamfered surface 210 is between the camera 105 and the supporthead cradle 112. In some examples, the cutout edge corresponding to thechamfered surface 210 is between the camera 105 and the head of thesubject when the head is supported by the support structure 110.

As shown, the chamfered surface 210 has a rectangular shape. In otherexamples, the chamfered surface 210 may have another suitable shape suchas but not limited to, a square, a circle, oval, an irregular shape, andso on. In some examples, the chamfered surface 210 is adjacent to twosurfaces of the device housing 200. For example, the chamfered surface210 is adjacent to a front surface 212 and a back surface 214. The frontsurface 212 and the back surface 214 are at a 90° angle (or anothersuitable angle) relative to one another. The cavity 202 is on the frontsurface 212. As described, the transducer 131 extends from the cavity202. In one example, the chamfered surface 210 is at a 45° anglerelative to the front surface 212 and the back surface 214. In anotherexample, the chamfered surface 210 is at other suitable angles relativeto the front surface 212 and the back surface 214. The angle of thechamfered surface 210 can be any suitable angle that allows the devicehousing 200 to clear the FOV of the camera 105.

The chamfered surface 210 allows the head of the subject to be morevisible to the camera 105 when the head is supported by the supportstructure 110 while keeping the camera 105 as close to the devicehousing 200 as possible. The camera 105 being as close to the devicehousing 200 as possible minimizes the risk of the camera 105 beingdeformed or dislocated due to objects and operators coming into contactwith the camera 105 during transportation, storage, or usage, as thecamera 105 extends from the device housing 200. Implementing thechamfered surface 210 instead of making the device housing 200 smallerallows the device housing 200 to have as much interior space as possiblefor structuring supporting the robotics, the transducer 131, thecontroller, the latch mechanism as described herein, and othercomponents of the device 130 while clearing the FOV of the camera 105.

In some arrangements, the camera position enables the camera 105 tocapture image data of at least a portion of the head of the subject. Asshown, the camera 105 is configured to capture image data at least aright lateral side of the head. The camera position is optimizedrelative to the position of the transducer 131 relative to the head orone or more anatomical features thereof.

In some arrangements, the camera position of the camera 105 isadjustable with respect to the device housing 200 to the image data ofthe subject's head from different positions relative to the devicehousing 200. That is, the camera 105 can be moved (e.g., pivoted,rotated, shifted, extended, and so on) automatically by the controlleror manually by an operator such that locations of particular anatomicalfeatures of the subject's head are within the FOV of the camera 105 whenthe subject's head is supported by the head cradle 112, and such thatthe device housing 200 or any other portion of the headset system 100does not obstruct the field of view of the camera 105. The devicehousing 200 includes suitable movement mechanisms such as but notlimited to, motors can move the camera 105 in motions such as pivoting,rotating, shifting, extend, and so on relative to the device housing200. In the arrangements in which the camera position is adjustable, thecamera position as used herein refers to a home position of the camera105. The home position of the camera 105 is a default position relativeto the device housing 200 such that the camera 105 is initiallypositioned at the home position before the registration process beginswith respect to a new subject. That is, every time the device 130 isconfigured to collect physiological data of a new subject, the camera105 is initially positioned at the home position before theregistration.

In other arrangements, the camera 105 extends from the device housing200 and is rigidly mounted to or is fixed with respect to the devicehousing 200, such that the camera 105 is stationary relative to thehousing 200. The device housing 200 or any other portion of the headsetsystem 100 does not obstruct the field of view of the camera 105.Movement mechanisms such as motors are not needed to move the camera105, thus allowing the device 130 to be space-efficient.

In some examples, the camera position (e.g., direction/angle anddistance) of the camera 105 relative to the subject's head (e.g., withina predetermined range of sizes/shapes of human heads) is a knownparameter. The camera position of the camera 105 relative to theworkspace of the transducer 131 is also a known and fixed parameter.Such parameters can be used to register the transducer 131 with respectto the subject's head, as further discussed herein.

To accurately and efficiently register the device 130 for operations,anatomical features of interest such as but not limited to, thesubject's temporal regions, tragus, and eye on a lateral side (e.g., theright lateral side) of the subject's head as well as markers indicativeof those anatomical features need to be visible to the camera 105 (atthe camera position) when the subject's head is supported by the headcradle 112, irrespective of a size or shape of the head of the subject.In some examples, the anatomical features of interest and the markers(fiducials) indicative of those anatomical features are centered inimages collected by the camera 105 irrespective of a size or shape ofthe head of the subject.

In that regard, FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram 400 a illustrating anobjective workspace 410 of the transducer 131 with respect to differentsizes and shapes of human heads 401 and 402 according to variousarrangements. Referring to FIGS. 1-4A, human heads may have differentshapes and sizes. The head cradle 112 is configured (shaped and sized)to support a human head having a size/shape within a range of sizes andshapes of normal human heads. In some examples, all normal human headshave sizes and shapes within the range. In other examples, apredetermined percentage (e.g., 99.9%, 99.5%, 99%, 98%, 95%, and so on)of all normal human heads have sizes and shapes within the range. Toillustrate this point, the human head 401 represents one end of therange of sizes and shapes of normal human heads (e.g., the human head401 is the smallest normal human head in the range) while the human head402 represents the other end of the range (e.g., the human head 402 isthe biggest normal human head in the range). The heads 401 and 402 beingsupported by the head cradle 112 demonstrates that the head cradle 112is capable of supporting human heads of any shape/size within the rangeof normal human heads.

As shown, given the geometry of the head cradle 112, the heads 401, 402and heads of any sizes/shapes in the range can contact known geometricfeatures (e.g., point(s), surface(s), edge(s), and so on) of the headcradle 112, such that the known geometric features can serve as fixedparameters used in empirical studies seeking to define the objectiveworkspace 410 for the range of normal human heads. The geometricfeatures take into account the thickness and the expanding/contractingnature of the padding of the head cradle 112. For sake of clarity, thepadding is not shown. In one example, the known geometric featuresinclude a first point 420 and a second point 421 on the head cradle 112.The first point 420 is configured to be adjacent to a crown and/or amid-scalp region of a head when the head is placed in the head cradle112. The first point 420 is on the Y′-axis as shown. The second point421 is configured to be adjacent to a back of the head when the head isplaced in the head cradle 112. The second point 421 is on the X′-axis asshown.

Sizes and shapes of normal human heads of test subjects that are withinthe range are sampled in the empirical studies to define the objectiveworkspace 410. In one example, heads of sample subjects havingsizes/shapes within the range were placed in the head cradle 112, andboundaries of anatomical features of interest are determined andrecorded. That is, feature boundaries corresponding to at least oneanatomical feature of interest (e.g., the temporal regions) aredetermined for test subjects in at least one empirical study.

When the head 401 is received in the head cradle 112, and the head 401contacts the head cradle 112 at the points 420 and 421, the anatomicalfeatures of interest of the head 401 are within a feature boundary 431.When the head 402 is received in the head cradle 112, and the head 402contacts the head cradle 112 at the points 420 and 421, the anatomicalfeatures of interest of the head 402 are within a feature boundary 432.When another head having a size/shape between the sizes/shapes of theheads 401 and 402 in the range is received in the head cradle 112, andthat head contacts the head cradle 112 at the points 420 and 421, theanatomical features of interest are within a feature boundary 433. Asshown, the feature boundaries 431-433 correspond to temporal regions ofa respective one of the heads 401, 402, and the head having thesize/shape between the sizes/shapes of the heads 401 and 402. In otherexamples, the feature boundaries described herein can also defineanatomical features of interest other than the temporal regions.

The boundaries of the objective workspace 410 includes at least thefeature boundaries 431-433 as well as the feature boundaries of othersubjects having heads of sizes/shapes within the range. In other words,with respect to the anatomical feature of interest (e.g., the temporalregion), the objective workspace 410 includes the feature boundaries forall head within the range of sizes and shapes of normal human heads. Asshown, the objective workspace 410 is defined on a X′Y′-plane, which isdefined by the X′-axis and the Y′-axis. The X′Y′-plane is parallel tothe XY-plane. To define the objective workspace 410, the static firstpoint 420 along the Y′-axis can be used to define the objectiveworkspace 410 (e.g., the sample feature boundaries 431-433) with respectto coordinates on the X′-axis. The static second point 421 along theX′-axis can be used to define the objective workspace 410 (e.g., thesample feature boundaries 431-433) with respect to coordinates on theY′-axis.

The X′Y′-plane is perpendicular to the Z-axis in which the transducer131 extends. In other examples, the X′Y′-plane is oblique to the Z-axis.The transducer 131 is configured to be moved by the robotics in theXY-plane, which is parallel to the X′Y′-plane. Thus, the total workspaceof the transducer 131 is between the X′Y′-plane and the XY-plane alongthe Z-axis, where the total workspace includes the objective workspace410 extending from the X′Y′-plane to the XY-plane through the Z-axis.

The device housing 200 and the robotics are configured to support thetransducer 131 at a transducer position. The transducer position refersto possible positions of the transducer 131, including a home positionof the transducer 131 and scanning positions of the transducer 131. Thehome position of the transducer 131 is an initial position of thetransducer 131 before the transducer 131 begins to collect thephysiological data of a subject's head. The robotics are configured tomove the transducer 131 to the scanning positions while the transducer131 collects the physiological data of the subject. That is, therobotics are configured to move the transducer 131 from the homeposition to the scanning positions. The robotics are configured to movethe transducer 131 from a first scanning position of the scanningpositions to a second scanning position of the scanning positions.

In some examples, each time after the transducer 131 completes scanning(e.g., collecting the physiological data) a subject, the robotics movesthe transducer 131 back to the home position. Thus, before a nextsubject is scanned, the transducer 131 remains at the home position. Insome examples, the home position of the transducer 131 in the XY-planealigns with or extends toward a center 460 of the objective workspace410. Both the home position of the transducer 131 and the center 460 ofthe objective workspace 410 are on the Z-axis. This minimizes thedistance that the transducer 131 travels to scan heads with differentshapes and sizes because the center 460 of the objective workspace 410is the closest point to all points in the objective workspace 410.

While the objective workspace 410 is shown to be a square, other shapes(e.g., a rectangle, a circle, an oval, an irregular shape, and so on) ofthe objective workspace 410 can be likewise determined based onempirical data collected in the empirical studies. In some examples, theobjective workspace 410 includes at least an aggregate of all outercontours of the feature boundaries determined in the empirical studies.In some examples, the objective workspace 410 corresponds to anaggregate of all outer contours of the feature boundaries determined inthe empirical studies plus a margin (e.g., 5%, 10%, and so on of thedimensions of the aggregate of all outer contours of the featureboundaries).

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating a FOV 440 of the camera 105in relation to the objective workspace 410 shown in FIG. 4A according tovarious arrangements. Referring to FIGS. 1-4B, the camera 105 issupported at a camera position 445, which corresponds to the lens centerof the camera 105. The camera 105 is suitably angled at the cameraposition 445 to have the FOV 440. As shown, the FOV 440 includes theentirety of the objective workspace 410. This ensures that the camera105 can capture the image data of the anatomical features of interest.The camera 115 has a line-of-sight (LOS) 470 that passes through thecenter 460 of the objective workspace 410 as shown. In other examples,the LOS 470 does not pass through the center 460.

The subjects' heads may have markers or fiducial (e.g., fiducials 451 a,451 b, 452 a, 452 b, 453 a, and 453 b) disposed by an operator atanatomically significant locations such that the image data collected bythe camera 105 includes the subject's head with the fiducials. In thatregard, for example, the FOV 440 includes fiducials 451 a, 451 b, 452 a,452 b, 453 a, and 453 b. In some arrangements, the fiducials aredisposed at anatomically significant locations (indicative of theanatomical features of interest) to facilitate the controller todetermine an actual workspace with respect to a given subject, forexample, signifying the boundaries of the actual workspace duringoperations of the transducer 131.

The objective workspace 410 (moving the objective workspace 410 from theX′Y′-plane to the XY-plane through the X-axis to project the objectiveworkspace 410 onto the XY-plane while maintaining the center 460 on theX-axis) corresponds to a range (aggregate or sum) of the scanningpositions and the home position to which the transducer 131 is capablemoving. That is, the total workspace represents limits that thetransducer 131 can be positioned. The total workspace can he optimizedto accommodate as many subjects (having heads of different shapes/sizes)as possible without unnecessarily enlarging the total workspace.Therefore, in determining the total workspace, the range of normal humanheads is sampled as used as the basis for the empirical studies. Thelarger the total workspace is, the larger and more complex the roboticsneed to be in order to move the transducer 131 within the larger totalworkspace. The implementations described herein leverage empiricalstudies to appropriate define the total workspace.

The actual workspace of the transducer 131 is determined for a givensubject's head using the registration process, based on the image datacollected by the camera 105 as described herein. For example, thefeature boundary 431 corresponds to the actual workspace for the humanhead 401, and the feature boundary 432 corresponds to the actualworkspace for the human head 402. Given that a head of each subject mayhave different sizes/shapes, the actual workspace is determined withrespect to each subject so that the transducer 131 can be moved toappropriate scanning positions.

The fiducials are configured to be detected by the image processingcircuit. In one example, the fiducials are disposed at a corner of asubject's eye and at the tragus of the subject. As such, to estimateimage locations of anatomical markers (e.g., ears and eyes) relative tothe transducer 131 through detection of fiducials, at least one imageper lateral side of the subject's head can be obtained after placementof at least one fiducial on either lateral side of the subject's head.In other arrangements, fiducials can be any nature anatomy landmarkssuch as but not limited to, the eyes, the nose, the ear, the forehead,the eyebrow, the mouth, the lips, the hairline, the collar bone, thenavel, the nipples, any joints, fingernails, and so on.

In some arrangements, any suitable number of fiducials can be disposedon a subject. In some arrangements, the fiducials are adhesive stickershaving a fixed, known, or predetermined size, shape, color, and designto allow the controller to identify the fiducials. In some arrangements,all fiducials disposed on the body of the subject have the same size,shape, color, and design. The controller is preprogrammed with thefiducials characteristics such as the size, shape, color, and design canbe used to identify the fiducials from the captured images. In somearrangements, the fiducials include a circular retroreflective materialand a surrounding black ring. The circular retroreflective material andthe surrounding black ring are on a surface opposite of the surface onwhich adhesive is provided. The circular retroreflective material andthe surrounding black ring are configured to the camera 105 when thefiducials are placed on the subject. For example, the retroreflectivefiducials are capable of reflecting light back to a source of the light(e.g., an illumination source installed on the camera 105) with minimalscattering. As an example, an electromagnetic wavefront incident on thefiducials is reflected back along a vector that is parallel to butopposite in direction from the wave's source. Other shapes of thefiducials include but are not limited to, a square, a rectangle, atriangle, a cross, a star, or another complex design that can be easilydistinguished from other shapes present on the body of the subject bythe controller. An example of a complex design is a square within acircle, which is within a triangle.

The size of the fiducials is a known and controlled parameter that isutilized by the controller during image processing and registration. Insome arrangements, each fiducial has a distinctive boundary (e.g., ablack boundary) that is made from a material that is not heavilyreflective or minimally reflective such that there can be a highcontrast between the retroreflective material and itsminimally-reflective boundary during illumination of the subject's head(e.g., by the illumination source). The boundary is around an outerperimeter of a fiducial. In some arrangements, each fiducial includes anadhesive backing for application to a subject's skin such that thefiducial remains sufficiently in place during operation of the device130. Similarly, the color, the shape, and design of the fiducials areknown and controlled parameters utilized by the controller during imageprocessing and registration.

As described, the image processing circuit of the controller isconfigured to receive the image data taken by the camera 105 (e.g., animage depicting a right lateral side of a subject's head), where thescene included in the image data corresponds to the FOV 440. The imagecaptured by the camera 105 includes a two-dimensional array of pixelbrightness values. In some arrangements, the registration circuit isconfigured to transform the camera coordinates obtained by the imageprocessing circuit into robot coordinates for use by the roboticscontrol circuit to control the robotics for positioning the transducer131 during the operation of the device 130 (e.g., during the scanningand the data collection).

As such, the camera position 445 and the LOS 470 are determined suchthat fiducial locations corresponding to fiducials placed on testsubjects (having head sizes/shapes within the range described) are inthe FOV 440. As shown in FIG. 4B, the FOV 440 further includes thefiducials 451 a, 451 b, 452 a, 452 b, 453 a, and 453 b. The fiducials451 a, and 451 b are placed on the human head 401 to facilitate indefining boundaries (e.g., the feature boundary 431) of the anatomicalfeatures of interest of the human head 401 during the registrationprocess. The fiducials 452 a, and 452 b are placed on the human head 402to facilitate in defining boundaries (e.g., the feature boundary 432) ofthe anatomical features of interest of the human head 402. The fiducials453 a, and 453 b are placed on the human head (having a size/shapebetween the sizes/shapes of the heads 401 and 402) to facilitate indefining boundaries (e.g., the feature boundary 432) of the anatomicalfeatures of interest of that human head. Therefore, the fiducials 451 a,451 b, 452 a, 452 b, 453 a, and 453 b represent a range of fiduciallocations for the range of sizes and shapes of normal human heads, whenthe normal human heads are received in the head cradle 112 andcontacting the points 420 and 421. The range of locations of thefiducial locations can be determined using empirical data obtainedthrough empirical studies involving a sufficient sample size. As shown,some of the fiducials (e.g., the fiducials 451 a, 452 a, and 453 a) areon or outside of the boundary of the objective workspace 410 while otherfiducials (e.g., the fiducials 451 b, 452 b, and 453 b) are inside ofthe boundary of the objective workspace 410.

FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram 400 c illustrating the FOV 440 of thecamera 105 and a home position 465 of the transducer 131 in relation tothe objective workspace 410 according to various arrangements. Referringto FIGS. 1-4C, the schematic diagram 400 c shows a top view of thedevice 130 (e.g., a top surface of the device housing 200 and a topsurface of the camera 105). As shown, the transducer 131 is located atthe home position 465 and extends in the Z-axis. The Z-axis isperpendicular to the X′Y′-plane and the objective workspace 410. TheZ-axis is perpendicular to the XY-plane (including the X-axis as shown),where the XY-plane defines the front surface 212. In some examples, thecenter 460 of the objective workspace 410 is on the Z-axis. As shown,the center 460 is also on the LOS 470 of the camera 105. The FOV 440(e.g., the horizontal width of the FOV 440) includes at least the widthof the objective workspace 410 as shown. As shown, the LOS 470 extendsfrom the camera position 445 (the lens center) to the center 460 of theobjective workspace 410. The LOS 470 is oblique to the objectiveworkspace 410 and the X′Y′-plane. The LOS 470 is at an angle (0)relative to the Z-axis. The angle θ is implemented so that both theZ-axis and the LOS 470 can pass through the center 460.

FIG. 4D is a schematic diagram 400 d illustrating the FOV 440 of thecamera 105 and the home position 465 of the transducer 131 in relationto the objective workspace 410 according to various arrangements.Referring to FIGS. 1-4D, the schematic diagram 400 d shows a side viewof the device 130 (e.g., the side surface 214 of the device housing 200and a side surface of the camera 105). As shown, the transducer 131 islocated at the home position 465 and extends in the Z-axis. The Z-axisis perpendicular to the X′Y′-plane, and the objective workspace 410, andthe XY-plane (including the Y-axis as shown). In some examples, thecenter 460 of the objective workspace 410 is on the Z-axis. As shown,the center 460 is also on the LOS 470 of the camera 105. The verticalheight of the FOV 440 includes at least the height of the objectiveworkspace 410. As shown, the LOS 470 extends from the camera position445 (the lens center) to the center 460 of the objective workspace 410.The LOS 470 is at an angle (β) relative to the Z-axis. The angle β isimplemented so that both the Z-axis and the LOS 470 can pass through thecenter 460.

As shown, the home position 465 of the transducer 131 is in a firstposition (e.g., a first coordinate) on Y-axis, and the camera position445 is in a second position (e.g., a second coordinate) on Y-axis.Y-axis is a vertical axis extending from a top portion of the devicehousing 200 to a bottom portion of the device housing 200, where the topportion and the bottom portion are on opposite ends of the devicehousing 200. The top portion includes a handle 220 and a top surface 216of the device housing 200. The top surface 216 faces the sky or ceilingwhen the device 130 is attached to the support structure 110. The bottomportion includes an insert portion 500 and a bottom surface 217 of thedevice housing 200. The bottom surface 217 faces the insert portion 500and the flat work surface (e.g., a bed, a table, the ground, a gurney,and the like) when the device 130 is attached to the support structure110. The distance between the first position and the second position onY-axis is referred to as an offset distance 468. That is, the cameraposition 445 is offset from the home position 465 along the verticalaxis (Y-axis) by the offset distance 468. Examples of the offsetdistance 468 include but are not limited to, 5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm,1-25 mm, and so on.

Furthermore, as seen in FIGS. 2H, 2I, 4C, and 4D, the camera 105 extendsaway from the transducer 131 toward a back of the device housing 200(opposite to where the subject's head may be) such that the FOV 440 ofthe camera 105 can capture a larger scene (e.g., including at least theobjective workspace as described herein) by increasing a length of theLOS 470. As a result, the chamfered surface 210 is implemented to clearthe FOV 400 in the manner described.

As shown, the device 130 includes at least a handle (e.g., the handle220 and a handle 225) disposed on the device housing 200. The handle 220is rigidly fixed to the device housing 200 and extends from the devicehousing 200 and forms a grip to allow an operator to grip the handle220. As such, the device housing 200 (and the device 130) is portablevia the handle 220.

As described, the device housing 200 includes the top surface 216 andthe bottom surface 217 opposite to the top surface 216. The bottomsurface 217 faces in a direction opposite to a direction in which thetop surface 216 faces. As described, the bottom surface 217 faces theflat work surface (e.g., a bed, a table, the ground, a gurney, and soon) when the headset system 100 is deployed (e.g., when the device 130is attached to the support structure 110 and when the baseplate 150 ofthe support structure 110 is placed on the flat work surface) andcollecting the physiological data of the subject. The handle 220 isdisposed on the top surface 216.

The device housing 200 may include a front portion 250 and a backportion 255. As shown, the handles 220 and 225 are disposed on the backportion 255. The front portion 250 is configured to structurally supportthe transducer 131, the robotics, and so on while the back portion 255is configured to support the camera 105, an actuator 230, the handles220 and 225, and so on. The front portion 250 and the back portion 255may be made from different materials. For example, the material of thefront portion 250 may be more lightweight than the material of the backportion 255. The material of the back portion 255 may be more heavy-dutygiven that manual interactive elements such as but not limited to, thehandle 220, the handle 225, and the actuator 230 are fixed/coupled tothe back portion 255. The material of the back portion 255 being morerigid and durable can reduce wear-and-tear to the manual interactiveelements when an operator is carrying the device 130 or actuating theactuator 230 in the manner described. Examples of the material of theback portion 255 include but are not limited to, metal, aluminum, steel,titanium, magnesium, various alloys, and so on. On the other hand, giventhat the front portion 250 houses at least automated components such asthe transducer 131 and the robotics, manual interaction with the frontportion 250 is considerably less as compared to that with the backportion 255. Therefore, to reduce overall weight of the device 130, thefront portion 250 can be made from a lightweight material such as butnot limited to, hard/rigid plastic, carbon fiber, fiber glass, expandedfoam, compression molded foam, thermoplastic polymer (e.g., ABS),thermoplastic elastomer (e.g., TPO), nylon, PVC, fiber reinforcedresins, and so on. As such, maintenance cost and product lifetime can beimproved while the weight of the device 130 is minimized.

In some examples, the front portion 250 and the back portion 255 areconfigured to move relative to one another. In that regard, the devicehousing 200 (one or both of the front portion 250 and the back portion255) may include suitable movement mechanisms such as but not limitedto, motors configured to move the front portion 250 and the back portion255 relative to one another. In some examples, given that the camera 105is fixed or otherwise coupled to the back portion 255, moving the backportion 255 also moves the camera 105 (e.g., along the X-axis) to changethe FOV 440 of the camera 105 (e.g., shifting the FOV 440 along theX-axis).

The handle 220 includes a grip portion 221 and side portions 222 a and222 b. The grip portion 221 is configured to be gripped by an operator.The side portions 222 a and 222 b extend from the device housing 200(e.g., from the back portion 255) and connect the device housing 200with the grip portion 221. The grip portion 221 and the side portions222 a and 222 b form an arc-like shape and an interior space for a handof the operator. In the example shown, the grip portion 221 has anelongated shape and extends in a direction that is parallel to the topsurface 216, which is the surface of the device housing 200 on which thehandle 220 is disposed. In other examples, the grip portion 221 may haveanother suitable shape and extends in an oblique direction with respectto the top surface 216.

The handle 220 (e.g., at least the side portions 222 a and 222 b)extends from the device housing 200 in a direction that allows thedevice housing 200 to be upright (e.g., vertical or substantiallyvertical to the ground) when the device housing 200 is carried by anoperator via the handle 220. In some examples, the handle 220 (e.g., atleast the side portions 222 a and 222 b) extends from the device housing200 in a direction that maintains a center of mass of the device 130when the device housing 200 is carried by an operator via the handle220. In that regard, as shown, the side portions 222 a and 222 b extendsfrom the back portion 255 in an oblique direction relative to the topsurface 216, toward the front surface 212 of the device housing 200 suchthat when the operator lifts the device housing 200 by the grip portion221, the center of mass of the device 130 maintains the device 130housing 200 in an upright position (without tilting to either side). Asshown, at least a portion of the grip portion 221 is disposed over thefront portion 250. By extending the side portions 222 a and 222 b in thedirections as shown, the weight of the material of the back portion 255is minimized.

As shown, the device 130 further includes the handle 225 (e.g., asecondary handle) disposed on the device housing 200. The handle 225 isrigidly fixed to the device housing 200 and extends from the devicehousing 200 to form a grip to allow an operator to grip the handle 225.As such, the device housing 200 (and the device 130) is portable via thehandle 225.

The device housing 200 further includes a back surface 218. The backsurface 218 is on the back portion 255. The back surface 218 faces in adirection opposite to the direction in which the front surface 212faces. The handle 225 is disposed on the back surface 218. As described,the transducer 131 protrudes from the front surface 212 and operateswithin the cavity 202, which is on the front surface 212. The transducer131 extends toward the support structure 110 to collect thephysiological data of the subject when the head of the subject is in thehead cradle 112 and when the device 130 is attached to the supportstructure 110. Further, the insert portion 500 is also configured toextend toward the support structure 110 to engage a receiving portion550 as described herein to attach the device 130 to the supportstructure 110. As such, by providing the handle 225 on a surface facingin a direction opposite to the direction in which the transducer 131 andthe insert portion 500 extend, the operator has more control whenattaching the device 130 (e.g., the insert portion 500) to the supportstructure 110 (e.g., the receiving portion 550).

The handle 225 includes a grip portion 226 and side portions 227 a and227 b. The grip portion 226 is configured to be gripped by an operator.The side portions 227 a and 227 b extend from the device housing 200(e.g., from the back portion 255) and connect the device housing 200with the grip portion 226. The grip portion 226 and the side portions227 a and 227 b form an arc-like shape and an interior space for a handof the operator. In the example shown, the grip portion 226 has anelongated shape and extends in a direction that is oblique to the backsurface 218, which is the surface of the device housing 200 on which thehandle 225 is disposed. In other examples, the grip portion 226 may haveanother suitable shape and extends in a parallel direction with respectto the back surface 218. As shown, the direction in which the gripportion 221 extends and the direction in which the grip portion 226extends are transverse to one another.

As described, the grip portion 226 has a straight and elongated shapeand extends in a direction oblique to the back surface 218. The sideportion 277 a extends from the top portion of the device housing 200 andis proximal to the handle 220. The side portion 277 b extends from thebottom portion of the device housing 200 and is proximal to the insertportion 500. The side portion 277 b is longer than the side portion 277a. The distance between the grip portion 226 and the back surface 218 isless at locations of the grip portion 226 that are closer to the sideportion 277 a. The distance between the grip portion 226 and the backsurface 218 is greater at locations of the grip portion 226 that arecloser to the side portion 277 b. This results in the grip portion 226being oblique with respect to the back surface 218. The shape of thehandle 225 allows an operator to manage the position of the devicehousing 200 in the process of attaching the device 130 to the supportstructure 110. For example, by gripping the grip portion 226, theoperator can easily align the insert portion 500 with the receivingportion 550, improving the assembly time of the headset system 100 andallowing the operator to quickly assemble the headset system 100 inemergency situations.

The back surface 218 and the top surface 216 face different directionsand are on different sides of the device housing 200. Therefore, bydisposing the handles 220 and 225 on the top surface 216 and the backsurface 218, respectively, an operator can carry the device 130 from twodifferent directions.

In some arrangements, the headset system 100 includes an attachmentmechanism (connection interfaces) that allows each of the devices 130and 135 to be releasably and removably attached to the support structure110 (e.g., the baseplate 150). For example, an insert portion 500 isdisposed on the device housing 200 that is configured to be releasablyand removably inserted into the receiving portion 550 of the supportstructure 110. That is, the insert portion 500 is configured (sized andshaped) to engage the receiving portion 550 to removably attach thedevice housing 200 to the baseplate 150. Likewise, the device 135 (e.g.,a device housing such as but not limited to, a mirror image of thedevice housing 200) includes an insert portion (such as but not limitedto, a mirror image of the insert portion 500) configured to bereleasably and removably inserted into the receiving portion 555 (suchas but not limited to, a mirror image of the receiving portion 550) ofthe support structure 110. In that regard, the receiving portions 550and 555 are configured to receive and secure the devices 130 and 135,respectively, using a slide-and-lock mechanism. As shown, the receivingportions 550 and 555 are located on opposite sides of the supportstructure 110.

In some examples, a body 560 extends in an oblique direction from thebaseplate 150. That is, when the bottom surface of the baseplate 150contacts the flat work surface (e.g., a bed, a table, the ground, agurney, and so on), the body 560 appears to be raised from the baseplate150, elevating from the flat work surface farther as the body 560extends into a receptacle 552. Similarly, a body 565 extends in anoblique direction from the baseplate 150. When the bottom surface of thebaseplate 150 contacts the flat work surface, the body 565 appears to beraised from the baseplate 150, elevating from the flat work surfacefarther as the body 565 extends into a receptacle of the receivingportion 555. The bodies 560 and 565 extend from two opposite sides ofthe baseplate 150 as mirror images. Directions in which the bodies 560and 565 extend serve to stabilize the devices 130 and 135 whileelevating the receiving portions 550 and 555 to appropriate positionsfor the operation of the devices 130 and 135 as described.

Furthermore, the receiving portion 550 (e.g., the receptacle 552)extends in a direction that is oblique with respect to and from thebaseplate 150. The direction in which the receiving portion 550 (e.g.,the receptacle 552) extends is oblique with respect to the flat worksurface when the bottom surface of the baseplate 150 contacts the flatwork surface. Likewise, the receiving portion 555 (e.g., the receptaclethereof) extends in a direction that is oblique with respect to and fromthe baseplate 150. The direction in which the receiving portion 555(e.g., the corresponding receptacle) extends is oblique with respect tothe flat work surface when the bottom surface of the baseplate 150contacts the flat work surface. Directions in which the receivingportions 550 and 555 extend serve to position the devices 130 and 135 tohave the appropriate workspaces for the operation of the devices 130 and135 as described. In some examples, the body 560 extends from thebaseplate 150 in a first direction. The receptacle 552 extends in asecond direction. The first direction traverses the second direction.

FIG. 5A illustrates a front view of the insert portion 500 of the device130 shown in FIGS. 1-2I according to various arrangements. FIG. 5Billustrates a perspective view of the insert portion 500 of the device130 shown in FIGS. 1 and 1-2I according to various arrangements. FIG. 5Cillustrates a perspective view of the receiving portion 550 of thesupport structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A-3C according to variousarrangements. FIG. 5D illustrates a perspective view of a mechanicallinkage 540 linking the actuator 230 to a rail 530 according to variousarrangements.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5D, in some arrangements, the insert portion 500 isconfigured as a slider that can slide into the receiving portion 555 toengage tracks (e.g., the slots 570) on the receiving portion 555. Theinsert portion 500 is configured to be adjustable along the slots 570 ofthe receiving portion 555. The receptacle 552 forms an apertureconfigured to receive the insert portion 550. For example, the insertportion 500 can slide within the receptacle 552 and can be locked inplace at a desired position relative to the receiving portion 555. Theaperture has an inner surface that includes the slots 570.

In some arrangements, given that the device housing 200 is fixedrelative to the insert portion 500, adjustment of a position of theinsert portion 500 (via the rail 530 having teeth) relative to thereceiving portion 550 (the slots 555) results in adjustment of thedevice housing 200 (e.g., the transducer 131) with respect to asubject's head (e.g., in a telescoping adjustment in a direction inwhich the extension portion 500 extends). The direction in which theinsert portion 500 extends is parallel to the Z-direction toward andaway from the subject's head. As described, the transducer 131 extendsalong the Z-axis toward the head of the subject (e.g., toward thesupport structure 110) when the head is supported by the supportstructure 110.

The insert portion 500 includes a first end 510 connected to the devicehousing 200 and a second end (e.g., an extension 520) opposite to thefirst end 510. The extension 520 extends from the first end 510 (andfrom the device hosing 200) in a direction parallel to the directionalong the Z-axis in which the transducer 131 extends. In somearrangements, a bottom surface 217 of the device housing 200 isconnected to the insert portion 500 (e.g., the first end 510 of theinsert portion 500). In particular arrangements, the device housing 200is affixed to the first end 510 of the insert portion 500 by anysuitable connection mechanism, such as, but not limited to, welding,adhesive, one or more separate bolts, one or more hooks and latches, oneor more separate screws, press fittings, or the like.

In some arrangements, the insert portion 500 is made from any suitablerigid material, such as, but not limited to, hard plastic, metals,aluminum, steel, titanium, magnesium, various alloys, rigid plastics,composites, carbon fiber, fiber glass, expanded foam, compression moldedfoam, SLA or FDM-made materials, RIM molding, ABS, TPO, nylon, PVC,fiber reinforced resins, or the like. Considering the use of the insertportion 500, the insert portion 500 is made from metals, aluminum,steel, titanium, magnesium, various alloys, and so on.

As described, the teeth of the rail 530 are configured (sized andshaped) to engage the slots 570 when the insertion portion 500 (e.g.,the extension 520) is engaged with the receiving portion 550. At least aportion of the extension 520 can be inserted into the receptacle 552. Insome examples, the extension 520 has a substantially flat shape. Asbetter seen in FIG. 5A, the extension 520 has a hexagonal shape with atop surface 525 and a bottom surface 526. The bottom surface 526 facesaway from the bottom surface 217 of the device housing 200. The rail 530is disposed on the bottom surface 526. The flat and hexagonal shapeserves to stabilize the extension 520 and the device 130 when insertedinto the receptible 552, such that the device 130 does not tilt fromside to side during operations of the transducer 131. In addition, thedevice housing 200 is configured to stand upright on a surface (e.g.,the flat work surface) due to the flat shape, if the operator needs totemporarily set the device 130 down. This improves user-friendliness.Further, the extension 520 includes a key portion 535 that makes thefront face of the extension 520 asymmetric. The receptacle 552 has acorresponding protrusion therein that fits into the key portion 535. Theasymmetry allows the extension 520 to fit into the receptacle 552 butnot the extension of the device 135, thus minimizing the changes thatthe operator installs the device 135 to the receiving portion 550.

The receiving portion 550 may have an inner portion 558 having an innersurface configured to allow the extension 520 to fit therein. Thus, theinner portion 558 has a shape that conforms with the shape of theextension 520. The receiving portion 550 includes outer portions 557 a,557 b, and 557 c that cover the inner portion 558 to provide structurerigidity. In some examples, the inner portion 558 may be made from amaterial more flexible than that of the outer portions 557 a, 557 b, and557 c, to allow the extension 520 to be easily inserted. For example,the inner portion 558 may be made from a hard/rigid plastic, composites,carbon fiber, fiber glass, SLA or FDM-made materials, RIM molding, ABS,TPO, nylon, PVC, fiber reinforced resins, or the like. The outerportions 557 a, 557 b, and 557 c are configured to provide structureintegrity and prevent the inner portion 558 from expanding due tooveruse. In that regard, the outer portions 557 a, 557 b, and 557 c aremade from metals, aluminum, steel, titanium, magnesium, various alloys,and so on. The outer portions 557 a, 557 b, and 577 c are separate fromone another. The slots 570 are disposed on the outer portion 577 c.

The actuator 230 (a latch) is disposed on the back surface 218 of thedevice housing 200. As described herein, the actuator 230 is configuredto lock the insert portion 500 in a position relative to the receivingportion 550 when at least a part of the insert portion 500 is insertedinto the receiving portion 550. The actuator 230 is disposed in a spacebetween the handle 225 and the device housing 200 (e.g., the backsurface 218), proximal to the side portion 277 a. The handle 225protects the actuator 230 from wear-and-tear, obstructing objects thatwould otherwise come into contact with the actuator 230 by forming aprotective barrier around the actuator 230. The handle 225 also preventswires from entangling the actuator 230 by forming the protective barrieraround the actuator 230. Furthermore, the position of the actuator 230allows the operator to use a hand to insert the insert portion 500 intothe receiving portion 550 and then to lock the insert portion 500 inplace using the same hand. This improves user-friendliness anddeficiency in assembling the headset system 100.

As shown, the back surface 218 includes a raised portion 260 forming aslot 261. When the actuator 230 is in a first position (e.g., proximalto the side portion 227 a), the rail 530 is in the unlock position(retracted into the extension 520). When the actuator 230 is in a secondposition (e.g., into to the slot 261), the rail 530 is in the lockposition (protruding from the extension 520). The raised portion 260forms a barrier on either side of the actuator 230 when the actuator 230is in the second position to prevent the operator or another object fromcoming into contact with the actuator 230. The width of the actuator 230allows the actuator 230 to be moved from either side of the handle 225.

The actuator 230 is configured to lock the insert portion 500 in theposition relative to the receiving portion 550 by controlling a positionof the rail 530. The actuator 230 is configured to control the positionof the rail 530 via a lever mechanism (the mechanical linkage 540)connecting or linking the actuator 230 with the rail 530. As shown, themechanical linkage 540 includes suitable joints and arms configured totransfer mechanical energy from the actuator 230 to the rail 530 toactuate the rail 530 in the lock and unlock positions as described. Asshown, the rail 530 is configured to face an opening slit of thereceptacle 522 of the receiving portion 550.

In some examples, the insert portion 500 is disposed on the secondportion 255 as shown. The insert portion 500 may be made from a sameheavy-duty material as that of the second portion 255. The insertportion 500 may be fixed to the second portion 255 via screw bosses, andso on. In other examples, the insert portion 500 may be detachablymounted to the second portion via latches, snapping, hook-and-loop, andso on such that the insert portion 500 can be replaced without tools. Inother examples, the insert portion 500 is disposed on the first portion250. In some examples, the entire insertion portion 500 is detachablefrom the device housing 200. In other examples, the extension 520 can bedetachable from the first end 510 to be replaced.

As described, the transducer 131 is configured to move relative to thesubject in collecting the physiological data. For example, the roboticscan move the transducer 131 in the Z-axis and along theXY-plane/X′Y′-plane. Before registering (pre-registration) or beforescanning the subject (post-registration), the operator may need tomanually position the transducer 131 at a half-Z position along theZ-axis using suitable interactive elements (not shown) such as but notlimited to, a level, a knob, a dial, a button and so on. The interactiveelements are operatively coupled to the transducer 131 and/or therobotics. The half-Z position corresponds to a center on the Z-axis thatis between the home position 465 and a farthest position to which therobotics can move the transducer 131 along the Z-axis. The distance (apredetermined length) between the home position 465 and the farthestposition is referred to as a maximum Z-axis distance. The half-Zposition is at half or approximately half of the maximum Z-axisdistance. Failing to move the transducer 131 a sufficient length alongthe Z-axis to the half-Z position from the home position 465 may resultin poor signal quality given that the transducer 131 may be too far awayfrom the head of the subject. On the other hand, moving the transducer131 past the half-Z position from the home position 465 may result inthe subject experiencing increased pressure from the transducer 131during data collection, causing discomfort or even pain. Thus, theoperator should be notified whether the transducer 131 has been movedmanually to the half-Z position or to within a predetermined rangecentered at the half-Z position. In one example, the predetermined rangeis 5%, 10%, 15%, or so on of the maximum Z-axis distance. In anotherexample, the predetermined range is 5 mm, 1 cm, 1.5 cm, 1 mm-2 cm, or soon.

In that regard, the device housing 200 further includes at least oneposition indicator (e.g., position indicators 270-275) configured toindicate whether the transducer 131 is at the predetermined positionalong the Z-axis. For example, the controller (e.g., the processingcircuit) is operatively coupled to the position indicators 270-275 tocontrol the position indicators 270-275 in the manner described. Thetransducer 131 is operatively coupled to a linear encoder (not shown),which is configured to send a signal corresponding to a current positionof the transducer 131 along the Z-axis to the controller. For example,the linear encoder may include a position sensor coupled to a scale. Thescale may be magnetic, optical, inductive, capacitive, and so on. Thescale is operatively coupled (e.g., threaded or paired) to thetransducer 131 and moves with the transducer 131. The position sensor isconfigured to read an output (e.g., an encoded position) from the scaleand convert the output into an electrical signal. The controller mayinclude motion controller or a digital readout element configured todecode the signal to obtain the position of the transducer 131 along theZ-axis. As such, the controller is configured to determine whether thecurrent position of the transducer 131 is at a predetermined position(the half-Z position or within the predetermined range centered at thehalf-Z position) along the Z-axis based on the signal.

The controller is further configured to control the position indicators270-275 to indicate that the transducer 131 is at the predeterminedposition along the Z-axis in response to determining that the currentposition of the transducer 131 is at the predetermined position (thehalf-Z position or within the predetermined range centered at the half-Zposition). For instance, the controller can configure the positionindicators 270-275 to indicate that the transducer 131 is at thepredetermined position along the Z-axis by controlling the positionindicators 270-275 to be in a first displayed state.

In addition, the controller is configured to control the positionindicators 270-275 to indicate that the transducer 131 is not at thepredetermined position along the Z-axis in response to determining thatthe current position of the transducer 131 is not at the predeterminedposition (the half-Z position or within the predetermined range centeredat the half-Z position). The controller can configure the positionindicators 270-275 to indicate that the transducer 131 is not at thepredetermined position along the Z-axis by controlling the positionindicators 270-275 to be in a second displayed state different from thefirst displayed state.

In the examples in which the position indicators 270-275 are lights(e.g., light emitting diodes (LEDs), incandescent lamps, halogen lamps,neon lamps, and so on), the first displayed state corresponds to a firstcolor and the second displayed state corresponds to a second colordifferent from the first color. In further examples in which theposition indicators 270-275 are lights, the first display statecorresponds to the position indicators 270-275 being switched on and thesecond displayed state corresponds to the position indicators 270-275being switched off. In additional examples in which the positionindicators 270-275 are lights, the first display state corresponds tothe position indicators 270-275 being switched off and the seconddisplayed state corresponds to the position indicators 270-275 beingswitched on.

As shown, the position indicator 270 is disposed on the front surface212. The position indicator 271 is disposed on the top surface 216. Theposition indicator 272 is disposed on the chamfered surface 210. Theposition indicator 273 is disposed on the side surface 214. The positionindicator 274 is disposed on a side surface 219. The position indicator275 is disposed on the back surface 218. While one of the positionindicators 270-275 are shown on each of the surfaces 210, 212, 214, 216,218, and 219, any number of position indicators can be disposed on anyor all of the surfaces 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, and 219. By disposingthe position indicators 270-275 on different surfaces of the devicehousing 200, the operator can observe the position indicators 270-275from anywhere relative to the device housing 200.

In some examples, the position indicators can be organized as a line orcluster of indicators. For example, a line or cluster of separateposition indicators (e.g., lights) can be dispensed over two or more ofthe surfaces 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, and 219, forming a continuousposition indicator over multiple surfaces.

While the position indicators 270-275 shown are lights, other visualcues such as one or more electronic displays can likewise be operativelycoupled to the controller to indicate whether the transducer 131 ispositioned at the predetermined position (the half-Z position or withinthe predetermined range centered at the half-Z position). For example,the controller can configure the electronic displays to indicate thatthe transducer 131 is at the predetermined position along the Z-axis bycontrolling the electronic displays to display a first display. Thecontroller can configure the electronic displays to indicate that thetransducer 131 is not at the predetermined position along the Z-axis bycontrolling the electronic displays to display a second display distinctfrom the first display. The first and second display can be differentwords, different patterns, different graphics, different colors, and soon.

Audio cues such as sound outputted by one or more speakers can likewisebe operatively coupled to the controller to indicate whether thetransducer 131 is positioned at the predetermined position (the half-Zposition or within the predetermined range centered at the half-Zposition). For example, the controller can configure the speakers toindicate that the transducer 131 is at the predetermined position alongthe Z-axis by controlling the speakers to output a first sound. Thecontroller can configure the speakers to indicate that the transducer131 is not at the predetermined position along the Z-axis by controllingthe speakers to output a second sound distinct from the first sound. Thefirst and second sounds can be sounds with one or more of differentlengths, different periodicities, different frequencies, differentpitches, and so on.

During the operation of the probe, particles (e.g., hair) and liquid(e.g., blood and gel) may fall into the cavity 202—a hazard toelectronic and mechanical components (e.g., the robotics) of the device130 that are exposed by the cavity 202. FIG. 6A illustrates a front viewof an enclosure 600 according to various arrangements. FIG. 6Billustrates the enclosure 600 of FIG. 6A being deployed on the device130 shown in FIGS. 1-2I according to various arrangements. Referring toFIGS. 1-6B, the enclosure 600 is configured to seal or otherwise enclosea portion (e.g., the cavity 202) of the device housing 200 to preventparticles (e.g., hair) and/or liquid (e.g., blood and gel) from enteringinto the cavity 202, thus improving performance and longevity of thedevice 130.

In some arrangements, the enclosure 600 includes an enclosure body 610.The enclosure body 610 is configured to cover the cavity 202 when theenclosure 600 is attached, fastened, or otherwise coupled to the devicehousing 200 (e.g., via anchors 240-243). That is, the enclosure 600 isconfigured to be removably attached to the anchors 240-243 in the mannerdescribed. The enclosure body 610 is made of a material that providesingress protection against liquid (e.g., blood, sweater, and water) andparticles (e.g., dust and hair) for the cavity 202. In somearrangements, the enclosure body 610 is made of an elastic material.Furthermore, in some arrangements, the enclosure body 610 is made of abiocompatible material suitable for contacting a human body (e.g., thehead of the subject). Therefore, in considering ingress protection,elasticity, and biocompatibility, the enclosure body 610 can be madefrom a material such as but not limited to, polyethylene (PE),polypropylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polyurethane (PU),polyetherimide (PEI), PVC, and polyether ether ketone (PEEK).

The enclosure 600 (e.g., the enclosure body 610) includes a hole 620.The hole 620 is configured to be operatively engaged with the transducer131, exposing a portion of the transducer 131. For example, the portionof the transducer 131 that is exposed can include the first end that hasthe concave surface configured to be adjacent to or contact the scanningsurface on the head. The transducer 131 can be inserted through the hole620 to expose the portion of the transducer 131 that is not covered bythe enclosure body 610.

In some arrangements, the hole 620 forms a seal around the transducer131 when the enclosure 600 is attached, fastened, or otherwise coupledto the anchors 240-243. In one example, dimensions (e.g., the radius) ofthe hole 620 are smaller than corresponding dimensions (e.g., theradius) of the transducer 131. A portion of the enclosure body 610surrounding the hole 620 forms the seal around the transducer 131 byproviding a friction fit with the transducer 131 to prevent liquid andparticles from entering into the cavity 202. The friction fit is createdas the transducer 131 is inserted through the hole 620, causing theportion of the enclosure body 610 surrounding the hole 620 to stretch toform the seal due to differences of the dimensions of the hole 620 andthe corresponding dimensions of the transducer 131.

In some arrangements, when the enclosure 600 is attached, fastened, orotherwise coupled to the anchors 240-243, the portion surrounding andaround the hole 620 corresponds to extra material of the enclosure body610. The extra material forms a pocket-like volume to allow the portionsurrounding and around the hole 620 to move freely with the transducer131 when the enclosure 600 is attached, fastened, or otherwise coupledto the anchors 240-243. Particularly, the extra material allows thetransducer 131 to be moved to anywhere within the workspace of thetransducer 131 without causing strain or tear in the enclosure body 610.

The enclosure body 610 forms an opening around which a fasteningmechanism 630 is provided for attaching, fastening, or otherwisecoupling the enclosure body 610 to the anchors 240-243 to allow easyinstallation and removal of the enclosure 600 and to provide secureplacement of the enclosure 600 while on the device 130 and while thedevice 130 is operating. Although the fastening mechanism 630 is shownto be an elastic band configured to be expanded and tighten around theanchors 240-243 once the enclosure 600 is positioned, other examples ofthe fastening mechanism 630 include, but are not limited to, Velcro®,adhesive strips, adhesives, buttons, zippers, clamps, and strings.

Further disclosure regarding the enclosure 600 that can be used inconjunction with the headset system 100 described herein can be found innon-provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/952,791, titled ENCLOSUREFOR DEVICE INCLUDING PROBE, and filed on Apr. 13, 2018, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The anchors 240-243 are configured to anchor the enclosure 600configured to enclose at least a portion (e.g., the cavity 202) of thedevice 130. As shown, the configuration (e.g., positions, sizes, shape,and so on) of the anchors 240-243 defines the shape of the enclosure 600when the enclosure 600 (e.g., the fastening mechanism 630) engages theanchors 240-243. As such, the anchors 240-243 can be positioned atstrategic locations on the device housing 200 such that the enclosure600 may have a shape that corresponds to (e.g., have the same shape as)or at least approximate the shape of the cavity 202 when the enclosure600 (e.g., the fastening mechanism 630) engages the anchors 240-243.

As shown, the anchors 240-243 are disposed on an edge portion (e.g., aborder) that defines the cavity 202 on the front surface 212. The edgeportion includes an interior surface facing an interior of the devicehousing 200 (e.g., facing the robotics, the controller, and so on). Theinterior surface is configured to face away from the subject when thetransducer 131 collects the physiological data of the subject, when thesubject is supported by the support structure 110. In some examples, theanchors 240-243 are attached, fixed, or otherwise coupled to theinterior surface of the edge portion. In that regard, at least a portionof each of the anchors 240-243 is disposed within the cavity 202 asshown. In other examples, the edge portion includes an exterior surfacefacing away from the interior of the device housing 200, and the anchors240-243 are attached, fixed, or otherwise coupled to the exteriorsurface of the edge portion. The exterior surface is configured to facethe subject when the transducer 131 collects the physiological data ofthe subject, when the subject is supported by the support structure 110.In further examples, the anchors 240-243 are attached to the devicehousing 200 (e.g., the front surface 212) on both the interior surfaceand the exterior surface.

As shown, the anchors 240-243 are disposed around the cavity 202 on theedge portion, where the cavity 202 aligns with (e.g., corresponds to)the XY-plane of the workspace of the transducer 131 as described. Toensure that the enclosure body 610 takes an appropriate form (e.g., arectangle) to as to cover the cavity 202 when the enclosure 600 isattached, fastened, or otherwise coupled to the anchors 240-243, theanchors 240-243 are disposed on the four corners of the cavity 202. Toensure that the enclosure body 610 to take other forms (e.g., atriangle, a square, a circle, an oval, a hexagon, and so on)corresponding to a cavity of another shape, the anchors can bepositioned differently on the edge portion. In an example in which acavity has a square shape, an anchor is disposed on each of the fourcorners of the cavity. In an example in which a cavity has a triangleshape, an anchor is disposed on each of the three vertices of thecavity. In an example in which a cavity has a circle or oval shape,multiple (e.g., six or more, even or more, eight or more, nine or more,or ten or more) anchors are disposed around the edge portion of thecavity. In that regard, the number and locations of the anchors dependon the shape of the cavity.

The anchors 240-243 being disposed on the edge portion allows thedisposable body 610 (when the enclosure 600 is attached, fastened, orotherwise coupled to the anchors 240-243) to not intrude on the FOV 440of the camera 105. As such, the anchors 240-243 are not provided on thechamfered surface 210 and are restricted to the front surface 212. Theanchors 243 and 242 proximal to the chamfered surface 210 are spacedapart from the chamfered surface 210 by a sufficient distance such thatthe enclosure 600 is not in the FOV 440 of the camera 105 when theenclosure 600 is attached, fastened, or otherwise coupled to the anchors240-243.

As shown, each of the anchors 240-243 is or otherwise includes a hook.As shown, each of the anchors 240-243 has a first portion that extendsfrom the edge portion and a second portion connected to the firstportion, where the second portion bends away from the transducer 131 orthe cavity 202. As shown, the home or initial position of the transducer131 is in the center of the anchors 240-243. The second portions of theanchors 240-243 bend away from the home or initial position of thetransducer 131. The first portion may be perpendicular or oblique to thefront surface 212. The second portion may be parallel or oblique to thefront surface 212. The first and second portions are configured (sizedand shaped) to engage and retain the fastening mechanism 630 (theelastic band) when the fastening mechanism 630 is placed over theanchors 240-243. In some examples, the fastening mechanism 630 includessuitable adhesive used to attach the enclosure body 610 to the anchors240-243.

As shown, the second portion of each of the anchors 240-243 has aquarter-circle shape. The quarter-circle allows a large surface area toretain the fastening mechanism 630 (securing the fastening mechanism 630between the first and second portions) while having a smooth edge of thequarter-circle to contact the enclosure body 610 without any risk of thesmooth edge piercing the enclosure body 610. In other examples, thesecond portion may have another suitable shape such as but not limitedto, a half circle, a circle, an oval, a square, a rectangle, and so on.

In other arrangements, instead of the hook-like anchors 240-243, araised edge around the edge portion on the front surface 212 with agroove facing away from the cavity 202 and the transducer 131 are usedto retain the fastening mechanism 630.

In some arrangements, the headset system 100 as described herein is usedin conjunction with other diagnostic ultrasound procedures, such as, butnot limited to, needle guidance, intravascular ultrasound (e.g.,examination of vessels, blood flow characteristics, clot identification,emboli monitoring, and so on), echocardiograms, abdominal sonography(e.g., imaging of the pancreas, aorta, inferior vena cava, liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, kidneys, spleen, appendix, rectal area, and so on),gynecologic ultrasonography (e.g., examination of pelvic organs such asuterus, ovaries, Fallopian tubes, and so on), obstetrical sonography,otolaryngological sonography (e.g., imaging of the thyroid (such as fortumors and lesions), lymph nodes, salivary glands, and so on), neonatalsonography (e.g., assessment of intracerebral structural abnormalitiesthrough soft spots of a skull of an infant, bleeds, ventriculomegaly,hyrdrocephalus, anoxic insults, and so on), ophthamological procedures(e.g., A-scan ultrasound biometry, B-scan ultrasonography, and so on),pulmonological uses (e.g., endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)), urologicalprocedures (e.g., determination of an amount of fluid retained in asubject's bladder, imaging of pelvic organs (such as uterus, ovaries,urinary bladder, prostate, and testicles), and detection of kidneystones), scrotal sonography (e.g., to evaluate testicular pain, identifysolid masses, and so on), musculoskeletal procedures (e.g., examinationof tendons, muscles, nerves, ligaments, soft tissue masses, bonesurfaces, and so on), bone fracture sonography, testing for myopathicdisease, estimating lean body mass, proxy measures of muscle quality(e.g., tissue composition), nephrological procedures (e.g., renalultrasonography), and so on.

In some arrangements, the headset system 100 as described herein is usedin conjunction with therapeutic ultrasound procedures, such as, but notlimited to, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), focused ultrasoundsurgery (FUS), Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS),lithotripsy (e.g., breaking up kidney stones, bezoars, gall stones, andso on), targeted ultrasound drug delivery, trans-dermal ultrasound drugdelivery, ultrasound hemostasis, cancer therapy, ultrasound-assistedthrombolysis, dental hygiene (e.g., cleaning teeth),phacoemulsification, ablation (e.g., of tumors or other tissue),acoustic targeted drug delivery (ATDD), trigger release of drugs (e.g.,anti-cancer drugs), ultrasound-guided treatments (sclerotherapy,endovenous laser treatment, liposuction, and so on), and so on. In somearrangements, ultrasound is used for physical therapy applications,including, but not limited to, stimulating tissue beneath the skin'ssurface (e.g., by using very high frequency sound waves, such as, as anexample, between about 800,000 Hz and 2,000,000 Hz), treatingmusculoskeletal ailments with ultrasound exposure (e.g., ligamentsprains, muscle strains, tendonitis, joint inflammation, plantarfasciitis, metatarsalgia, facet irritation, impingement syndrome,bursitis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and scar tissueadhesion), and so on.

The above used terms, including “held fast,” “mount,” “attached,”“coupled,” “affixed,” “connected,” “secured,” and so on are usedinterchangeably. In addition, while certain arrangements have beendescribed to include a first element as being “coupled” (or “attached,”“connected,” “fastened,” etc.) to a second element, the first elementmay be directly coupled to the second element or may be indirectlycoupled to the second element via a third element. As used herein, twomechanical components that are “configured” to be coupled in anysuitable manner (e.g., to engage, to fit, to support, to receive, and soon) with respect to one another are sized and shaped (e.g., sized andshaped to engage, sized and shaped to fit, sized and shaped to support,sized and shaped to receive, and so on) to be coupled accordingly.

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the various aspects described herein. Variousmodifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied toother aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to theaspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistentwith the language claims, wherein reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specificallyso stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically statedotherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. All structural andfunctional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects describedthroughout the previous description that are known or later come to beknown to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporatedherein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims.Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to thepublic regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited inthe claims. No claim element is to be construed as a means plus functionunless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in theprocesses disclosed is an example of illustrative approaches. Based upondesign preferences, it is understood that the specific order orhierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged while remainingwithin the scope of the previous description. The accompanying methodclaims present elements of the various steps in a sample order and arenot meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

The previous description of the disclosed implementations is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosedsubject matter. Various modifications to these implementations will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principlesdefined herein may be applied to other implementations without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the previous description. Thus, the previousdescription is not intended to be limited to the implementations shownherein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with theprinciples and novel features disclosed herein.

The various examples illustrated and described are provided merely asexamples to illustrate various features of the claims. However, featuresshown and described with respect to any given example are notnecessarily limited to the associated example and may be used orcombined with other examples that are shown and described. Further, theclaims are not intended to be limited by any one example.

The foregoing method descriptions and the process flow diagrams areprovided merely as illustrative examples and are not intended to requireor imply that the steps of various examples must be performed in theorder presented. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art theorder of steps in the foregoing examples may be performed in any order.Words such as “thereafter,” “then,” “next,” etc. are not intended tolimit the order of the steps; these words are simply used to guide thereader through the description of the methods. Further, any reference toclaim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,”“an” or “the” is not to be construed as limiting the element to thesingular.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, andalgorithm steps described in connection with the examples disclosedherein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, orcombinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability ofhardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules,circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms oftheir functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented ashardware or software depends upon the particular application and designconstraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans mayimplement the described functionality in varying ways for eachparticular application, but such implementation decisions should not beinterpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

The hardware used to implement the various illustrative logics, logicalblocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the examplesdisclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purposeprocessor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device,discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but, in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration. Alternatively, some steps or methods may be performed bycircuitry that is specific to a given function.

In some exemplary examples, the functions described may be implementedin hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. Ifimplemented in software, the functions may be stored as one or moreinstructions or code on a non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium or non-transitory processor-readable storage medium. The steps ofa method or algorithm disclosed herein may be embodied in aprocessor-executable software module which may reside on anon-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable storage medium.Non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable storage media maybe any storage media that may be accessed by a computer or a processor.By way of example but not limitation, such non-transitorycomputer-readable or processor-readable storage media may include RAM,ROM, EEPROM, FLASH memory, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage,magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any othermedium that may be used to store desired program code in the form ofinstructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a computer.Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc,optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and blu-raydisc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discsreproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above are alsoincluded within the scope of non-transitory computer-readable andprocessor-readable media. Additionally, the operations of a method oralgorithm may reside as one or any combination or set of codes and/orinstructions on a non-transitory processor-readable storage mediumand/or computer-readable storage medium, which may be incorporated intoa computer program product.

The preceding description of the disclosed examples is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentdisclosure. Various modifications to these examples will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to some examples without departing from the spiritor scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intendedto be limited to the examples shown herein but is to be accorded thewidest scope consistent with the following claims and the principles andnovel features disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A headset system, comprising: a transducerconfigured to collect physiological data of a subject; a device housingconfigured to support the transducer; an insert portion disposed on thedevice housing; a support structure comprising a baseplate and areceiving portion, wherein the receiving portion has a length thatextends in a direction that is oblique with respect to the baseplatewhen the baseplate is placed on a surface; and a head cradle supportedby the baseplate, wherein the insert portion is sized and shaped toengage the receiving portion to removably attach the device housing tothe baseplate, wherein the transducer is configured to move relative tothe device housing while the insert portion engages the receivingportion in the same direction that is oblique with respect to thebaseplate.
 2. The headset system of claim 1, wherein the receivingportion extends in an oblique direction from the baseplate.
 3. Theheadset system of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion comprises abody and a receptacle; and the receptacle forms an aperture configuredto receive the insert portion.
 4. The headset system of claim 3, whereinthe aperture has an inner surface comprising slots; the insertionportion comprises a rail having teeth; and the teeth are configured toengage the slots when the insertion portion is engaged with thereceiving portion.
 5. The headset system of claim 3, wherein the insertportion comprises an extension having a top surface and a bottomsurface; the bottom surface faces away from the device housing; and therail is disposed on the bottom surface.
 6. The headset system of claim3, wherein the body extends in an oblique direction from the baseplate.7. The headset system of claim 3, wherein the body extends from thebaseplate in a first direction; the receptacle extends in a seconddirection; and the first direction traverses the second direction. 8.The headset system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the insertportion has a flat shape.
 9. The headset system of claim 8, wherein thedevice housing is configured to stand upright on a surface via theportion of the insert portion having the flat shape.
 10. The headsetsystem of claim 1, wherein the transducer extends from the devicehousing in a first direction; the insertion portion extends in a seconddirection; and the first direction and the second direction areparallel.
 11. The headset system of claim 1, further comprising anactuator configured to lock the insert portion in a position relative tothe receiving portion when at least a part of the insert portion isinserted into the receiving portion.
 12. The headset system of claim 11,wherein the actuator comprises a latch disposed on the device housing.13. The headset system of claim 11, wherein the insertion portioncomprises a rail having teeth; and the actuator is configured to lockthe insert portion in the position relative to the receiving portion bycontrolling a position of the rail.
 14. The headset system of claim 13,wherein the actuator is configured to control the position of the railvia a lever mechanism connecting the actuator with the rail.
 15. Theheadset system of claim 13, wherein the rail faces an opening slit ofthe receiving portion.
 16. The headset system of claim 11, wherein thetransducer extends from the device housing in a first direction; theactuator is arranged on a surface of the device housing that faces asecond direction; and the first direction and the second direction areopposite.
 17. The headset system of claim 11, wherein the device housingcomprises a first portion and a second portion separate from the firstportion; the first portion is configured to support the transducer; andthe actuator is disposed on the second portion.
 18. The headset systemof claim 17, wherein the insert portion is disposed on the firstportion.
 19. The headset system of claim 17, wherein the insert portionis disposed on the second portion.
 20. The headset system of claim 1,wherein at least a portion of the insert portion is detachably mountedto the device housing.
 21. A headset system, comprising: a transducerconfigured to collect physiological data of a subject; a device housingconfigured to support the transducer, the transducer is disposed on afront side of the device housing; an insert portion disposed on thedevice housing; a support structuring comprising a baseplate and areceiving portion, wherein the receiving portion has a length thatextends in an oblique direction from the baseplate; a head cradlesupported by the baseplate, wherein the insert portion is sized andshaped to engage the receiving portion to removably attach the devicehousing to the baseplate, wherein the transducer is configured to moverelative to the device housing while the insert portion engages thereceiving portion in the same direction that is oblique with respect tothe baseplate; and an actuator disposed on a back side of the devicehousing, wherein the front side and the back side are opposite sides ofthe device housing.